In the quiet, rural setting of Amboy, Washington, the life of 84-year-old Vernon "Skip" Snider, a White/Caucasian male, came to a tragic and violent end on June 22, 2019. The day took a dark turn when deputies from the Clark County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to Snider's residence on a report of a possible homicide. Upon their arrival at the home where Snider had lived for 47 years, they discovered a grim scene. Inside, they found the bodies of two men, both of whom had been shot.
An investigation by the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office would later reveal the harrowing details of what transpired. Vernon Snider had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head, and his death was officially ruled a homicide. The second man found at the scene was identified as 56-year-old Robert E. Rowland, also a resident of Amboy. The medical examiner determined that Rowland had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The investigation concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide, with Rowland being the sole suspect in Snider's death. As Rowland took his own life at the scene, no arrests were made in connection with the case.
Vernon "Skip" Snider was remembered as a man with strong ties to his community and family. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he had also served as a police officer for 17 years in Yuba City, California. He was a loving husband to his late wife of 53 years, Gail Roberta MacMath Snider, and a caring father to his five children, one of whom preceded him in death. His legacy also included 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In the wake of this tragedy, his family found solace in the belief that "Skip and Gail" were together again and at peace. In accordance with his wishes, no public ceremony was held.
